TKR My second TKR recovery begins

[Layla]

Hi New England Librarian,
How did your appointment go yesterday? Those first outings can be pretty tiring. I hope all went well for you and you're pleased with your progress so far.
Sleep well tonight!
@New England Librarian

 

[New England Librarian]

Left TKR, Day 14: Last night I went to an important condominium meeting, which lasted almost 2 hours. I was reasonably comfortable sitting in an armless dining chair, although bruising on the back of my operative leg still makes sitting awkward. I shifted my leg position frequently, and got up once to move around. Well, this morning, despite using the cold compression machine all night on my elevated leg (as usual), I woke up early in lots of pain. As soon as I was out of bed for a few minutes, my calf became very swollen and painful, and has stayed that way most of the day. My visiting PT later explained that sitting relatively immobile for 2 hours was the culprit! She said that she often warns patients upon discharge not to go to movies or performances, or otherwise sit for so long without elevating, but I learned the hard way. I guess today was a step backwards, hopefully a minor one, and I am even more conscious of the need to keep getting up and sitting with the leg elevated.

 

[Layla]

Sorry you're hurting. Sounds like your knee was bent for too long. Good you stood up to walk once, but I guess your knee needed more position changes this early on. I hope you're icing and elevating because it should help.

I guess today was a step backwards,

It happens to us all. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Jermert]

Sorry you’re hurting sounds like you’re doing the correct things to alleviate the problem. Be cautious also with that swollen calf and watch for signs of clot. Best wish for a smooth recovery.

 

[New England Librarian]

@Layla: thank you for asking about my first follow up appointment. I was pleased to be out in the world, although bending enough to get in and out of a car was challenging. My surgeon’s wonderful PA thought my lack of appetite and stomach upset might be from Meloxicam (anti-inflammatory), which she said can “alter the gut biome”. A perfect description for what I was experiencing since Day 4! So I am now on Celecoxib (and a probiotic) for a while, and after 4 days off meloxicam, I am finally feeling hungry and more comfortable. The steri-strips came off, and the stitches will dissolve. My wound is pretty unsightly, but not infected or abnormal in any way. In fact, she said everything (except the stomach upset) is “completely normal” - and it’s so encouraging to hear those words! Surgical site and leg muscle pain are both inhibiting my bend, but every day I push myself a tiny bit more, and every day it hurts a tiny bit less! That’s progress for sure, and I’ll take it!

 

[Layla]

every day I push myself a tiny bit more, and every day it hurts a tiny bit less!

Love this! Easy does it. This wise way of recovering will hopefully bring steady progress without any setbacks in the ODIC. Good to hear your appointment went well and adjusting meds helped ease the digestive issues you had. You're doing well! Have a wonderful weekend.

 

[EalingGran]

Agree with @Jockette My son broke his leg playing football when he was 10. He was in a cast for a few weeks and I was shocked at how thin and wasted his calf muscles were when the cast was removed. He had no physio but within a few weeks of normal use his leg muscles had redeveloped.

 

[Jockette]

My son broke his leg playing football when he was 10.

My son broke his leg playing basketball in high school. No PT that was recommended, and he recovered fine.

All these examples are on people who did not just have major surgery where bones were cut, soft tissue rearranged, and hammers and drills were used inside the leg. I fail to understand why there is such a push for painful exercises within days/weeks of a TKR surgery.